Chicken feeder



TBS

R. a. HERRINGTON l CHICKEN FEEDER Filed Feb, s, 1925 Patented Jan. 19, 1926.

1 UNITED STATES PATENT NoFFlcE.

RANCY BLAIN HERRINGTON, OF WOLBACH, NEBRASKA.

CHICKEN FEEDER. i

Application filed February 3, 1925. ySerial` No. 6,567. l

To all whom t may concern:

v`reference to a device of this class which is particularly adapted for feeding chickens.

The object of the invention is to generally improve upon devices of this class by providing one of comparative simplicity and durability which embodies improved structural details from which important advantages result. These constructional differences will become apparent from the following description and drawing. i

In the accompanying drawing forming a,

part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the samet' d Figure 1 is an elevation, with a portion broken away and shown in section, ofa chicken feeder constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an end view partly in section and partly in elevation showing the construction and arrangement of parts more clearly, and

Figure 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the parts of the improved device.

Referring to the drawing, it will be seen' that the reference character 1 designates generally `an appropriate table or stand upon which the feeder is supported. The feeder itself is composed mainly of a trough 2 and a hopper 3 for automatically dispensing feed into the trough to be rendered accessible to the chickens. In the present instance the trough is open at its top, the same being of elongated rectangular design and being provided on its bottom with L-shaped brackets 4 which are pivotally connected to upstanding lugs or their equivalent 5 carried by the table. This permits rocking or oscillation of the trough. yConnected to and extending crosswise of and beyond the bottom of the trough are end pieces 6 of a frame. Connected to the e2;- tended end portions of the pieces 6 are longitudinal strips 7 constituting rests upon which the chickens are adapted to perch when feeding.

As before stated, the hopper 3 serves to automatically discharge feed into the trough. In the present instance the hopper comprises a body, the upper portioir o-f which `is substantially V-shaped in cross section and the lower portion of which provides a constricted discharge neck 8. The neck has its end walls equipped with vertically elongated slots 9 and removable bolts or their e uivalent 10 extend through the corresponding walls of the trough andi the slotstoadjustably connect the hopper with the trough, permitting the elevation of the hoppe-r to be varied to control the discharge of eed. The neck 8 is open at itsy bottom and disposed beneath the open bottom is a V-shaped spreader plate 11, the apex of which is located at the center of the neck for the 4purpose of equally dividing and shifting the feed to opposite sides into the trough. C

The hopper is open at its top and hinged covers 12 and 12 are provided for closing it, the covers being hingedly connected together at theirmeeting edges as indicated at 13. The lower portions of the covers are y provided with marginal strips 14 to takeA over the upper end of the hopper to insure a tight closure. Attention is directed to the fact that the covers are disposed 1n downwardly diverging relation to render i the inclination comparatively steep. i

I also wish to direct attention to the fact that the width of the upper portion of the hopperis greater than'the width of the trough 2 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

It will be noted that a pair of duplicate arms or swinging brackets 15 are piv oted at 16 to the end flanges ofthe left hand cover seen in Figure 2, the free ends of these arms being upturned as indicated at 17 and the extremities thereof being connected with a rocking board 18 which is interposed therebetween and pivoted thereto at 19. It will be noted also that adjacent their upturned ends, the arms are provided with notches for reception of outstanding stop pins 20. It is yet to be pointed out that the stationary cover 12 is providedwith a laterally directed stop pin 21 which comes into play in the manner described.

In use, the hinged cover 12 is swung open and the feed is placed into the hopper in the ordinary way. Vhen the cover swings carries the pivoted ends 16 of the arms l5 upwardly with it. In so doing the board 1S swings over top ot the stationary cover 12 and when the movable cover is completely open, it rests against the stoppin 2l to maintain the cover in open position. Here it might logically be stated that the board 18 is normally readily movable about its pivot point and prevents chickens from resting thereon. Frequently, in devices of this class the chickens rest upon the hopper and unavoidable dirt Vis sometimes deposited into the trough. The. swingable board 1S will prevent the chickens from resting on it. lIn some instances if a number ot chickens collect on the board 18, it will swing together with the arm l5 over in a direction from right to lett in`I `igure 2 and literallyY throw the chickens ott ot' the'hopper. After the cover is closed, the feed hasin the meantime gravitated downwardly through .the discharge neck b and through the medium of the spreader plate Il is cast-.in opposite dircction into the trough and as it isconsumed more feed gradually feeds downward. The feed ma)v be consumed as is obvious by elevating the hopper to adjust the distance between the discharge neck and the spreader plate. Ink eatingA` the chickens roost or perch upon the board T and in moving about, the trouglrand hopperiare bodil)Y rocked. side to side, thus aiding in the automatic delivery o'fteed.

rlhe foregoingl and other teatures and advantages ol the invention will become apparent' from the foregoing description in connection with the drawing. Therefore. a` more lengthy description is not necessary.

Although I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, .it is to be understood that minor changes coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to if desired.

Having `thus described the invention, what I claim is l. In a structure of the class described, a hopper, inclined covers for the same, one cover being stationary and the other cover being pivotally mounted, arms pivotally connected to the pivotally mounted cover, and a board pivotally connected to said arms and adapted for disposition above the meeting edges of the covers.

In astrueture of the class described, a supporting table, a feed trough pivotally mounted thereon, a roosting frame carried b v said trough, a hopper adjustably mounted upon said trough, said hopper heilig open at its top, relativelyr stationary and movable covers tor lsaid hopper, arms pivotally connected to the movable cover, and a board pivoted to the rcc ends ol' thc arms and located above the meeting edges of said covers.

il. In a structure ot the. class described, a hopper. inclined covers l'or the top thereof. one cover beingl stationary, and thc other cover being pivotallvconmected thereto, a stop carried by the stationary cover, an antiroost board normall \v disposed above the meeting edges ol the covers, means pivotallv connecting said board to the rclativcliv movable cover, said board being in turnliivotall);v connected upon said means. and said board heilig engageable with said stop when thc` movable cover in raised position.

l. In a structure of the class described. a Afeed hopper. said hopper being open at its top, a pair of cover stations for closing said top, one oi said sections being stationary, and the other section being relatively movtable, a pair ot arms pivotally connected at corresponding ends to the intcrnudiate portion ot the ends of the movable cover section. au anti-roost board disposed between and `pivotall)T connected to the opposite ends of said arms, stop pins disposed upon the ends of said movable cover section. the intermediate portions of the arms being engageablc with said stop pins` and an additional stop pin on the relativelyv stationary cover section with which said board is engageal'ile when the movable section is swung to open position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

RANG/Y BLAIN HERRINHTON. 

